Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. In the 1980s, the NWT Housing Corporation was in the process of defining their house designs to accommodate different weather conditions across the NWT, at which time also included what is now Nunavut. Mr. Speaker, one of the design features was to accommodate how the snow commonly fell above the treeline. This feature was a non-ventilated cathedral ceiling to be applied with a metal roof. However, this design was offered in the southern part of the NWT without advising clients that this does not work with asphalt shingles. I am not sure why the clients were not informed, but I believe the NWT Housing Corporation was exploring a variety of housing methods in order to improve their units.
Mr. Speaker, there are five such cases in Fort Resolution. Two of the cases have not made direct requests, but have spoken to me about their situation. One of the units was purchased by the NWT Housing Corporation to be reconstructed and also sold. One of the units is not currently being used. So for the costs of less than one unit, five of these units can be saved from having to be replaced.
Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, some of the units built in Fort Resolution were built with the asphalt shingles instead of the intended metal roof. As a result, clients have chronic problems with their roofs. Mr. Speaker, because of the way things have unfolded, the clients now have rotten roofs that would be very costly to repair. At this time, the majority of the roof will have to be removed and a metal roof would have to be applied. With the onset of another winter, these clients are facing another season of high heating costs plus in the spring these roofs will leak and continue to rot.
Mr. Speaker, I believe that the NWT Housing Corporation should assist these clients by providing technical and financial support in order to rectify the problem that exists at no fault of the client. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. The honourable Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.
